When Viva first came out I remember Rare saying that they were working on an online play. The idea was that you could visit other people's garden and even help them garden. It was talked about a lot at first and then...nothing. Does anyone know if this is still happening?

Also, I can't believe Rare hasn't put out any expansion packs by now. I thought for sure they would be coming out with new pinatas downloads every other week, but not one to date. What gives? The argument could be made (as I have many times) that there is a very structured food chain at work and you can't just insert a new pinata into the mix. True, but you could bring in a new pinata at the top of the food chain like a tiger or a tigerine if you will (tiger + tangerine)

Or how expanding your territory? There are all these interesting structures and landscapes just outside your borders that I would love to explore. Maybe create whole new environments. Rare could sell an artic expansion pack where it is always snowing. You start with a penguin and work your way up to a polar bear. The possibilities are endless.

I get the idea that Rare is saving up for Viva Pinata 2, which would be unfortunate. Viva is has the potential to evolve and grow, (like any good garden) but you need to introduce new things into it every once in a while for that to happen. 

I try not to play favorites in the garden, but I have a special place in my heart for the Syrupent and his extented family. I guess the reason is because I am a sucker for evolves, and the Syrupent is the only pinata that can evolve twice.

 

The Syrupent shows up pretty early to the garden, all you need is some grass and a mousemallow and he'll become a resident. Once you've got a couple of Syrupents in your garden buy them a swank house (which looks like a stone cobra) and let the evolving begin. It's a delicate process that requires a little patient but the reward is well worth it.

 

First romance the two Syrupents, once the egg shows up watch it carefully. It will make many small hops, then it will make a noticably bigger hop. Once it makes that big jump whack it with your shovel and a baby Twingersnap will emerge. For those of you who do not already know a Twingersnap is a very cool two headed snake.

 

But wait, that's not all! Once you get two Twingersnaps go ahead and buy them a house (which looks like a aztec temple) and repeat the process to make a Fourheads. The coolest looking pinata in the game, in my opinion.

 

As I mentioned before I am not that into romancing pinatas. I find it rather tedious trying to get these guys in the mood, most of them have the libido of a panda, or pananda (panda + banana) if you will. And that little mini mating game get old pretty quick. Needless to say I put off getting the Master Romancer Acheivement as long as I could until I figured out this little trick...

 

First off, I should point out that Master Romancer is the term for both an award and an achievement in the game. It's confusing, I know.

 

Anyway, you get an award for being a Master Romancer for a specific species when you have 7 of that species in your garden at the same time. And therein lies the key. You only need to have 7 of the same species in your garden at one time, you do not necessarily have to breed them. You can buy (hire the hunter) seven of one pinata and bingo, you're a Master Romancer without once every having to do the deed.

 

To get the Master Romancer Acheivement you need to become a Master Romancer to 20 different species.

 

Now, hold on a sec! Before you go buying 7 of the 20 cheapest pinatas there is a more economical solution: Evolves.

 

For those of you who do not already know there are certain things you can do to certain pinatas to turn them into a completely new and different species. So, everytime you buy an evolvable pinata it like a 2 for 1 sale. Below is a list of all the evolvable pinatas and how to evolve them. (If I missed any please let me know) So go out there and get some achievement the good clean wholesome way!

 

A Sparrowmint fed a buttercup turns into a Candary.

A Horstachio fed a blackberry anda daisy turns it into a Zumbug.

A Newtgat fed a chili turns into a Salamango.

A Quackberry Fed a gooseberry turns into a Juicygoose.

A Lickatoad Fed a nightshade berry then tapped on the head with the shovel before it gets sick will turn into a Lackatoad.

Set a Taffly set on fire by sending it into a firebrand then quickly dousing with the watereing can to turn it into a Reddhott

When Viva first came out I remember Rare saying that they were working on an online play. The idea was that you could visit other people's garden and even help them garden. It was talked about a lot at first and then...nothing. Does anyone know if this is still happening?

Also, I can't believe Rare hasn't put out any expansion packs by now. I thought for sure they would be coming out with new pinatas downloads every other week, but not one to date. What gives? The argument could be made that there is a very structured food chain at work and you can't just insert a new pinata into the mix. True, but you could bring in a new pinata at the top of the food chain like a tiger

Or how expanding your territory? There are all these interesting structures and landscapes just outside your borders that I would love to explore. Maybe create whole new environments. Rare could sell an artic expansion pack where it is always snowing. You start with a penguin and work your way up to a polar bear. The possibilities are endless.

I get the idea that Rare is saving up for Viva Pinata 2, which would be unfortunate. You want your garden to evolve and grow, (like any good garden) but you need to introduce new things into it every once in a while for that to happen. 

What new piñatas would you like to see? I’ve got a few.

Tigerine = tiger + tangerine

Meringutan = Meringue + Orangutan

 

 

 

 

 

Once you really get your garden going money will cease to be an issue. There is be enough harvesting and romancing going on to keep you fat on chocolate coins. But in the beginning every one of those foil wrapped goodies counts, because without them you can't buy all the food, and homes, and garden accruments needed to keep your pinatas happy and in the mood. Here is an easy way to make some serious coin early on in the game.

 

First get yourself a Taffly. This isn't very hard. Tafflys are one of the first pinatas to visit your garden and all you need to make one a resident is a flower.

 

Next, go into the village and buy a $132 Firebrand from Costolot's store. You'll find it in the Garden Items section. Place it in your garden.

 

Now you are going to get the Taffly to fly into the firebrand by selecting the Taffly and then selecting the Firebrand.

 

Once the Taffly catches on fire put him out with your watering can.

 

Presto! You just turned a $328 Taffly into a $2100 Redhott!

 

The best part is, now that you turned your Taffly into a Redhott, another Taffly will come in from the wild to take its place. You will always have a limitless supply of Tafflys to turn into Redhotts as long as you have at least one flower in your garden!

 

Good luck, and happy scorching! 

So, check this out. Cliffy B., pretty much a demigod in the gaming world, works for Epic games, which is best known for Unreal Tournament and Gears of War. Guess who now has access to insider communications from Cliffy B.? Yeah, that’s right, me. This is what Xbox sent to my inbox:

"The games I work on are filled with bullets and buckets of blood. At the end of the week I like to unwind with happy, fluffy things. My Horstachio is my best friend. Until he misbehaves. Then it's time for the shovel."

Anyone who has played this game for five minutes knows that all the pinatas have a name that is a combination of the animal they are and some kind of dessert, candy, fruit, etc. Most of them are pretty obvious (e.g. Elephant + Vanilla = Elephanilla), but there are a few that I still don't get.

Are there some delicious foods out there that I dont know about or am I just over thinking this?

 

Whirlm

Everybody's first pinata resident and I still have no idea where the designers were going with this one. My best guess is that it is Worm + Swirl, like an ice cream swirl or something.

 

Crowla

I guess it's these short names that are the hardest, doesn't give you much to work with. I'm stumped.

 

Buzzenge

At first I thought they were going with Buzzard + Orange but then wouldn't it be Buzzarange or at least Buzzange? That first "e" throws me.

  

Fourheads

I'm pretty sure the designers just got lazy on this one. Prove me wrong.

 

Zumbug

The first thing you think is Zebra + Humbug, but I always thought Humbug was some kind of Dickensian expletive not something sweet.

 

Reddhott

I know there is candy called Red Hots but what is the animal? Is there something I am missing with the double r's and double t's?

 

Barkbark

There are a lot of candy barks I suppose...

 

Lackatoad

Lickatoad I get (Lick-a-stick + Toad) but Lackatoad?

 

Rashberry

The raspberry reference is obvious but what does the name have to do with pigs?

 

Pretztail

Pretzel I get, and tail, sure, but a lot of animals have tails, I don't see anything specific to a fox in here.

 

Galagoogoo

This one takes the cake. Not only can I not figure out the sweet, (my best guess is a Goo goo cluster) but I can't even tell what kind of an animal it is suppose to be. It looks like a bush baby or some kind of lemur but neither of those work at all.  

I’m not much of a namer, I don’t really get crazy and dress my piñatas up either. But some people are really into it and I know there are some good stories behind your Piñata names.

Give it up. There must be someone out there who named a Horstachio after an ex. I don’t know. Just share the wealth. Pictures and videos work well, too.

Piñatas, like old men, are stubborn. You set up this beautiful garden with enough water to fill the Niagara Falls and a certain Chippopotamus still refuses to enter it, ridiculous!  

The good news is that there’s a secret around the process of attracting piñatas, you don’t have to do it. You can swap your piñatas online, no questions asked. It’s kind of like baseball cards, swap the ones you want for the ones you need. Some circles may call this unfair, but in the world of Viva Piñata, anything goes. And the best (or worst part depending on how you look at it) is that once a piñata enters your garden, it can never leave. It can get mad and start picking fights, but it’s a lifer.  

Anyway, this site could be an unofficial swapping destination. I currently breed Horstachios and I’m particularly interested in obtaining a certain Chippopotamus. Looking to swap?

You start with a shovel and some dirt. Simple. You get a worm. Next thing you know, you’re 50 hours into it, hunting down a Fizzlybear. It’s what I call the “Piñata-ing” effect.  

On my quest to find a few new games, I happened to pick up Viva Piñata. I’m usually a shooter guy, but sometimes you gotta break the mold and see what else is out there. Well, three weeks later the shooter was on the floor, still in its packaging, and I was checking Piñata forums for achievement tips.  

What did I learn? First and foremost, I didn’t belong on the Piñata forums. I’m a 33 year old guy, not a 12 year old. I didn’t quite fit in if you know what I mean. Luckily, I found out that Microsoft was looking for guys like me. Yeah, that’s right, men who play Viva Piñata. I knew I wasn’t alone. Long story short, I’m now hosting this site with them as a forum for guys (and ladies) to talk about Viva Piñata. So here it is, a destination dedicated to mature, at least in numbers anyway, Viva Piñata fans. If you love this game as much as I do, feel free to submit a video or drop a line. I know for a fact that there are others out there.